Printing machine



April 3 I H. COLE 2,153,325

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1956 ZSheets-Sheef. 1'

lNVENTOR Herfier ark ATTORNEYS A ril 4, 1939. H. COLE 2353,3251

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8,1936 2 Sheets-Shed 2 INVENTOR Herbal? Cole Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE rnmrme MACHINE Herbert Cole, New York, N. Y.

Application August 8, 1936, Serial No. 94,925

11 Claims;

My present invention is concerned with the art of printing and relates particularly to means by which various types of printing including color printing may be speedily and efiiciently performed with thorough impregnation, drying and setting of the ink, without picking and without offsetting, though slip sheeting be dispensed with, and with the elimination of the troubles due to static electricity in the paper and without the need for seasoning the paper before supplying it to the press.

Another object is to provide means efiective for the above purpose, which may be readily incorporated in various known types of printing machines at present on the market, including the sheet fed cylinder press, the Web fed flat bed press and to both sheet and web fed rotary presses whether equipped with sheet or folded or rerolled delivery, and to offset presses as well as tolithograph presses, when used for various types of printing including magazine, catalogue and box work whether plain or colored,- and with various types of paper and various types of ink, whether of the solvent, evaporating or the oxiding type, which means may be inobtrusively installed as accessories on printing machines of any of said types already in use or may be initially incorporated as standard equipment thereon, in such manner as not to interfere with accessibility thereto or with the performance or operation of the various parts of the machine.

A feature of the invention is the application of heat to the sheet at one or more stages in the course of its travel from the feed end to the ultimate delivery of the printing machine to promote complete drying and setting in accordance with the character of paper and ink used. While the use of electric heat, or super-heated or dry steam heat is within the scope of the invention, it is 0 most desirable to use gas heat for the purpose,

- applied transversely across the conveyor by means of an incandescent gas radiator or a ceramic type of gas radiator or a perforated burner tube the flames of which play upon the sheet as it rapidly moves therepast after being imprinted. To assure adequate application of heat the heat source has an associated reflector in the shape of a hood afiixed to the machine. The heater and its hood may be installed below or above or one or more heaters may be above and one or more below the printed sheet in the course of its travel.

The number of hoods may be varied in accordance with requirements. In the tapeor belt type of conveyor the heater and its reflector are pref- 55 erably encircled by the belt the return lap of which passes over a roller at the exterior of the flector transversely across the discharge end of such carriage, -so that the sheet is quite warm when delivered into the jogging box to which a blast of air may be applied, preferably of hot air to keep the sheets in levitation for an appreciable period of time before they settle, and to promote completion of the drying and setting of the ink thereon.

Another feature is the application of a blast of air, hot or cold, moist or dry, in accordance with requirements, to the paper inthe course of its movement away from one or more of the heaters, thereby to insure that the paper has the proper degree of moisture or dryness and heat. Moist air is especially suitable where an electric or other type of heater is employed which otherwise might be apt excessively to dry the paper.

Another feature is the pre-heater transversely of the feed conveyor between the feed end and the printing platen usually in the form of a cylinder, which serves not only to remove static electricity but otherwise to pre-condition the paper with regard to heat and moisture so as readily to take the ink without likelihood of picking. This heater may be interposed'anywhere between the feed end and the printing platen, as for instance, in advance of the feed board or in a corresponding groove in the feed board, or. where a roller feed is employed in lieu.- of one of the rollers. The generic term platen as used in the specification and claims embraces the device which applies and takes the pressure on the paper in printing, and includes within its scope the cylinders usually employed for that purpose.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to. Fig. 4 of an alternative embodiment,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a special shape of reflector .or hood,

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic sectional view of another embodiment of hood, and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing one or more alternative embodiments of the feed end of the machine. 1

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings the Miehle type Press with modified feed end to which the invention is illustratively shown applied includes an automatic pile feeder, the paper stack III for which alone is illustratively shown, a supply conveyor shown illustrativeiy as a series of rollers ll, one of the several roller platens 12 by which the printing is performed, and a series illustratively of two conveyor sections l3 and M. The belts or tapes of each conveyor section are shown in two sets, set I5 above the paper and set 15 below the paper. Each belt or tape extends over a set of rollers or pulleys H. The machine is further shown with a reciprocating carriage type of delivery feed 18 with fingersor sticks I9 moving between the pulleys I! to pick up the printed paper from the final tape conveyor and a series of stripper fingers 20 on a shaft 2i by which the return of the printed sheet is blocked as the carriage returns to pick up the next sheet and in that process causes the stripped sheet to drop into the jogger box 22. The machine as thus far described is purely conventional and is merely set forth for a clearer understanding of the correlation of the invention with one of the numerous types of printing presses to which it may be applied.

In the illustrative embodiment shown, not all of the elements of the feed roller assembly II are rollers but one of the same has been replaced by a tube 23 of approximately corresponding length and diameter perforated at 24 and serving for application of gas combustion by minute flames at said holes. Thus the sheet in its travel to the platen from the automatic sheet feeder passes by the flames from tube 24, by which operation the paper is seasoned any static electricity in the sheet is removed and the sheet is adequately preheated to facilitate absorption or penetration of the ink which will lay much better on a heated than on a cold sheet and which precludes the picking of the ink, frequently incurred when attempting to print upon a cold sheet.

To insure proper setting and drying of the ink after the sheet has been printed, heat is applied to the sheet in its travel along the conveyor from the platen I 2 to the jogging box 22 and in manner eifective to perform this function. For this purpose it is preferred to apply a gas pipe 25 transversely across the conveyor adjacent the delivery tapes l6 said pipe having perforations l9. To concentrate the heat effectively upon the paper as it passes said tube a reflector hood 26 is used, generally semi-cylindrical in form ailixediby suitable bracket (not shown) to the frame of the machine and the gas pipe 25 extends longitudinally of the hood, preferably near its center or focus. By this means the heat is efiectively concentrated transversely across the paper as the latter passes the heat source and the drying and setting is considerably promoted.

In aconvenient and practical installation the heater rod or tube with its hood is encircled by the belt or tape 16 the upper lap of which extends over the hood and reflector without deflection from the conventional arrangement for which the the middle of the reflector 26 at its outer or convex side.

In the illustrative embodiment of Fig. 1 a heater and reflector assembly is shown not only below the tape as just described but a duplicate thereof is shown in inverted position above the paper corresponding parts bearing the same reference numerals, primed. The application of heat from both bottom and top, of the paper, of course expedites the setting and drying. For many purposes it is sufficient however to apply the heat only above the paper especially where an ordinary solvent ink is used or only below the paper especially where an ordinary varnish base ink is used.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are shown the details of the heater unit attachment. It may be briefly noted that brackets 30 are applied at the opposite ends of the generally cylindrical sheet metal reflector or hood l6, secured to the longitudinal edges thereof, said brackets having holders 3| for the perforated gas tube 25, which bears a conventional air mixing valve 32 at its open or inlet end to which the gas is supplied through a connection (not shown) at the nipple 33. A conventional pilot light sleeve is shown at 34.

In order to assure the proper degree of moisture in the paper after the heating operation it is at times desirable to apply a blast of air of suitable moisture content and suitable temperature, to the paper after it has passed the heater tube 25. Illustratively a pipe 35 is shown beyond the upper reflector 26' and above the paper, said pipe having perforations 36 through which a blast of air is supplied. Wherethe heat source is superheated steam or an electric heater, the air would be applied in relatively moist condition to compensate for any excess drying occurring in the heating operation. 'With the gas type of heater, little or no moisture would be required in the air blasts, since the product of combustion includes some moisture and so has no tendency to dehy- -ly shown above and below the paper in the second section I4 of the belt conveyor, such heaters being the same in construction as those on the first conveyor section just described, and of course similar heaters may be used or omitted as the case may be,'from other sections (not shown) of the conveyor, where a long conveyor machine is employed. An air pipe 35' is shown associated with heater H2, in relation corresponding to that of pipe 35 with the upper heater of the first conveyor section.

Illustratively a pipe 31 is also shown at the platen side of the upper reflector 26' on the first conveyor section. This pipe has perforations and serves for the admission of air, preferably warm air, primarily to keep the advance edge of the paper down against the lower tape l6 and to pre-- vent it from curling or blocking the machine'as it passes from the platen to the conveyor.

The reciprocating feed carriage is also preferably equipped at its discharge end with'a trans verse gas heater tube 38, perforated at 38, below the paper, and with transverse heater tube 39 above the paper end near the discharge end of the conveyor. Perforated tube 39 is equipped .well understood manner.

with an obliquely mounted reflector 40, to concentrate the heat to a point slightly in advance of the heater itself, so. that the sheet is quite warm from heat applied above and below, as it drops from off the reciprocating carriage into the jogging box 22. The reflector 40 is afllxed to the carriage by means of any suitable bracket (not shown).

The jogging box, which as shown is preferably adjustable to the dimensions of. the paper being printed, is equipped with air ports ll nearits bottom, through which air heated or cool or at atmospheric temperature may be admitted in a The warm printed sheets after dropping from the reciprocating carriage are levitated by this air blast above the stack in the jogging box andtake a considerable fraction of a minute to settle upon the stack, thereby promoting completion of the drying and setting action and precluding any reasonable possibility of smudging or oifsetting.

In the specific application shown, it is thus seen that the sheet on its way from the automatic pile paper feeder I is preheated by the heater 23 and after printing at the platen l2 (or at a succession of platens in color printing), it passes to the conveyor l3, M where heat is supplied from the radiant heater 25, 25' concentrated by the reflector 26, 26' and thereafter a blast of air is supplied through pipe 35 of suitable degree of moisture or dryness and this sequence of heating and drying operation may be repeated one or more times in the further travel of the paper. Further concentrated heat is applied at the discharge end of the reciprocating dellivery conveyor by heaters 38, 39

to cause the paper to drop into the jogging box in substantially dry and set condition, further air applied to levitate the paper in the jogging box promoting completion of the dry and setting operation. The heating'of the printed sheets in the course of their travel along the conveyor incidentally dispels the static electricity collecting on the sheet in its movement through the press sive platens in color printing presses.

The embodiments of. Figs. 4'and 5 difier from each other substantially only in the width of reflector or hood l6, that in Fig. 4 being relatively narrow and that in Fig. 5 being considerably wider. The proportions of the hood are determined largely by the degree of heat concentration required, which in turn depends to some extent on the character of ink used. Where heat is to be more sharply concentrated for rapid drying and setting,'the embodiment of Fig. 4 might be preferred, but it is understood that on any press a combination of wide and narrow reflectors might be employed to advantage. I

The embodiment of Fig.6 shows purely diagrammatically another shape of reflector or hood, which instead of being merely arcuate or segmental is rather almost a complete ellipse in cross section as at 45 with its open ends turned of the press that are contiguous to the left end of the hood.

In the embodiment of. Fig. '7, the reflector is illustratively shown as having two spaced walls 41. and 48 with insulating material 49, illustratively mineral wool interposed therebetween. By this means the loss of heat by conduction through the reflector is minimized and the heat is therefore more effectively applied to the printed sheet. It is of course understood that such heat insulated arrangement might be applied t advantage if desired, in any of the embodiments disclosed and that the embodiment of Fig.v 7

might be made of the single walled type as shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

In the embodiment of Fig. 8 are shown two alternative arrangements of the pre-heater 23 previously described in connection with Fig. 1. In the embodiment of Fig. 8 which illustratively shows a feed board 50 with feed tapes 5| in lieu of the rollers ll of Fig. 1, the pre-heater '23 is shown in one embodiment interposed between the automatic pile paper feeder l0 and the inlet to said feed board.

Another embodiment suggested in Fig. 8 is the disposition of such heater 3 in a rabbet or depression 52 across the upper face of the board. Both of the heaters shownin Fig. 8 might be used to advantage concurrently if. desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.. In a printing press ofthe type comprising a platen, a conveyor and sheet receiving means; means for effectively drying and setting the ink upon the sheets, said means including a rodlike source of radiant heat transversely across said conveyor, contiguous thereto and between said platen and said receiving means, and a condenser reflector associated with said source for playing the heat upon a localized region of the sheet in the course of its travel therepast.

2. In a printingpress of the type comprising one or more printing platens, a. conveyor and stacking means; a pre-heater in advance of the printing platen, and transversely of the sheet supplied thereto, and a. heater transversely across the conveyor, playing heat upon the printed sheet moving therepast for drying and setting the ink thereon, said latter heater having a condenser reflector associated therewith for concentrating the heat upon the sheet.

3. In a printing press of the type comprising a platen, a conveyor including feed belts and sheet receiving means; means for efiectively drying and setting the ink upon the sheets, said means including a rod-like source of radiant heat transversely across said conveyor and con tiguous thereto and a reflector associated with said source for playing the heat upon the sheet. said feed belts embracing said reflector, the latter having idler rollers at the face thereof, for the teed belts.

contiguous to the path of the movement of the sheets, each of said sources of heat having a condenser reflector associated therewith for effectively applying the heat to a localized region of the sheets.

5. In a printing press of the type comprising transversely of the reciprocating carriage and near the discharge end thereof.

7 6. As an attachment for a printing press, a metal hood reflector having a bracket at each end thereof, a preforated pipe longitudinally of said reflector and supported by said bracket and roller means carried by the outside of said hood to accommodate the return laps of conveyor belts.

'I. In a printing press of the type comprising an automatic pile paper feeder, a platen and interposed sheet feed rollers; a perforated pipe similar in shape and size to said feed rollers, interposed between a pair of adjoining rollers in the plane thereof and serving as a source of gas heat.

8. In a printing press of the type comprising means forefl'ecting an ink printing impression on a travelling sheet and means for feeding said sheet towards and away from said printing means, a rod-like source of radiant heat disposed beyond said printing means and extending transversely across the path of movement of said sheet and closely adjacent thereto, and a condenser reflector partiallyencircling said rod-like source for reflecting the heat therefrom upon a localized region of the sheet in the course 01 its travel 'therepast.

9. In a printing press of the type comprising means for efiectinng an ink printing impression on a travelling sheet and means for feeding said sheet towards and away from said printing means, a semi-cylindrical reflector having its axis extending transversely of the path of movement of the travelling sheet and having its open side facing the course of travel of the sheet and closely adjacent thereto, and a rod-like source of radiant heat extending along the focal axis of said reflector whereby the heat from said source is concentrated upon a localized region of the sheet in the course of its travel past said source.

10. A printing press including printing means, a pair of endless conveyors disposed in opposed relationship and adapted to feed a. sheet therebetween away from said printing means, a pair of rod-like sources of radiant heat disposed in opposed relationship between the runs of said endless conveyors respectively and extending transversely of the path of the movement of the sheet between said conveyors, and a pair of condenser reflectors associated respectively with said sources of heat for concentrating the heat of said sources upon localized regions of said sheet in the course of its travel between said conveyors.

11. In a printing press of the type in. which the printed sheet material is conveyed edgewise, an elongated heater extending transversely of the path of travel of the printed sheet material, and a reflector for said heater having one longitudinal side portion of its reflecting surface slanting inwardly towards the traveling sheet, to cause some of the reflected rays from said heater to be directed substantially tangentially of theprinted sheet.

HERBERT COLE. 

